Canada Focus

Last month I mentioned the possibility of praying 10,000 words in a tongue. Below you will find a further note on the value of the corporate sound in prayer. Next week, August 20-21, in Quebec, there is a very important summit of North American leaders. The 'SPP' is a very surprising initiative that is worthy of more research and prayer. When it comes to Harry Potter and his popularity amongst Christian youth I recently wondered if I was over reacting and whether I should just put a banana in my mouth! Please read on.

PRAYER FOR THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE PRESIDENTS!

On Monday, August 20th, Prime Minister Harper needs our prayers as he hosts President George Bush and President Felipe Calderon of Mexico, at Montebello, Quebec for a two day Summit. This is obviously a very important meeting as a 25 k security perimeter has been drawn around this little town on the river east of Ottawa. This is a summit for the little known ' Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America', abbreviated to 'SPP'. It was formed in March 2005 by the 3 Heads of State at a meeting in Cancun and is not an official treaty, but seems to be wide ranging in its planned effect. In June 2006 the North American Competiveness Council (NACC) was formed with business leaders who could advise government leaders, and so the CEO's of the following Canadian companies also need prayer as they help direct the process of the SPP:

This is a serious business commitment of very important leaders. It is a challenge in these days to know how to pray for a sovereign Canada when there is a common trend toward globalization and continental unions (NAFTA; Free Trade Area of the Americas - FTAA; European Union; African Union, ASEAN). May our leaders have great wisdom as they look at 5 main issues:

How to make N. America more competitive and prosperous

Avian Flu Pandemic preparedness

Emergency Management

Energy Security

Border Security

THE POWER OF THE SOUND IN CHINA

A few months ago I personally experienced a prayer meeting in a Chinese church that humbled me immensely. I traveled with a fellow pastor to visit friends in China and we were invited to attend a morning service that started at 8:30 am. Being keeners we decided to arrive at 7:00 am while their pre-service prayer took place. On a beautiful sunny morning imagine our surprise to walk into the building and find 450 adults on their knees praying, facing the backs of their chairs. They had been their from 6:00 am and would pray until 7:30 am. Nobody seemed to drift in late! The prayers were led by a team of women from the platform, and such an intensity of prayer we had not heard for a long time. A leader would cry out to God with a passion and fervency in a spirit of prayer that commanded attention in the congregation and a response in the Heavenlies. What made me very thoughtful was how the people moved together in alignment to agree with the prayers. When the leader came to the end of a prayer statement, everybody said 'AMEN'! in a loud voice. They said it together with forcefulness so that it went up like a shout, like a missile again piercing the Heavens. It was a sound that had power. In the last 15 years this church has grown from a group of about 20 older people, ages seventy plus, to where they are now affecting about 2000 people. The Pastor told us that the church has grown and developed on the basis of prayer and worship alone.

After the prayer time, the church spent an hour in pre-service Bible study and hymn practice. At 8:30 am they had a worship service and then baptized 40 people! By 10:00 am they had had church! I suspect we have much to learn about the power of agreement and the spirit of prayer.

In I Corinthians 14:11, the literal Greek is 'the power of the sound', which is generally translated as the 'meaning of the language'. Part of our privilege from being made in the image of God is the ability to create and the ability to speak words. Genesis chapter one states that 'God said …' and things were created. The power of the spoken word is still the divine method for people to be saved - the foolishness of preaching (1 Cor. 1:21), faith still comes by hearing the sound of the Word of God (Romans 10:17). I can always remember how years ago, a truck driver uttered a four letter word expletive at me with such power that I immediately felt defiled. Possibly swearing is the pagan equivalent of speaking in tongues, but in a different spirit, as it has the ability to create a very negative effect. Praise God that on the Day of Pentecost He reversed the judgment of the tower of Babel and brought the tongues of men under the spirit led government of God. Acts 12 teaches us that when those called of God to pray, actually come together to pray with fervency and no time constraint, then things happen. Let us go deeper in the Spirit to bring forth the Sound that will please the Father.

HARRY POTTER

Recently I was having a very pleasant lunch with four other Christians, when one asked another if they had bought the latest Harry Potter book, and then enthused about it. When I enquired why they devoted time and money to reading Harry Potter, they countered by saying that it represented the story of the victory of good over evil. What amazed me was that two other mature Christians agreed with him. Was I missing something? Over the years I have found that the Occult has been something for people to repent of and be cast out in the name of Jesus. Demonic influence (demonization), even in believers lives, has had such terrible effects that I find it a very serious matter. I believe that Jesus died on the Cross to set us free from the elemental spirits of the universe (Colossians 2:20), so why would we encourage our children in occult teaching and fantasy? It is breathtaking how the World has experienced a Witchcraft revival with millions dressing up as witches to buy the book at the witching hour. This must increase the power of the demonic in communities. The Gospel is irrelevant to many. My concerns:

The Harry Potter series develops a sympathetic identification with Harry as an advanced occult adept.

The purchase of product and paraphernalia can invite demonic impartation. Such things should be cleansed from the house.

A person, especially a child, could open their spirit to the occult as they dwell on the themes.

It creates another stronghold in peoples minds to make them more resistant to the Gospel, both in coming to Christ and obeying Christ.

"There shall not be found among you anyone who... practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out..." Deuteronomy 18:10-12.

Is this part of a strong delusion coming upon the world and infiltrating the church in the last days? I believe that we must intercede for Canada with zeal.
If you wish to comment on any of this or communicate with us please send an email to info@int4canada.com.

Intercessors for Canada

Intercessors for Canada is a group of Canadian Christian leaders and intercessors who seek God to hear what He is saying to our nation. It is our prayer that through the ministry of IFC you will be strengthened in your prayer life, and that a Spirit of Prayer will come upon you for Canada.